Hotel vs. timeshare

[cindyinnj]

What are the pros and cons of having a timeshare? We always stay in a hotel and love it, but my friend owns a timeshare and said we should get one because we go to LV at least twice a year. I personally like the hotels, their service, comps, taxi's, no cooking...etc. Would it be worth it to buy one?

[gerrybl]

I have a 2 br, 2 bath lockoff timeshare at Club de Soleil. I do not use it for staying in Las Vegas as I would rather stay on the Strip and since I get comps at NYNY it is a better deal for me. Instead I trade the timeshare for glorious vacations.

[Jilara]

I guess you could say I'm something like an expert, since I sorta own three timeshares in Vegas. ;-) (Sorta means I co-own a two-bedroom lockout (actually two full one-bedroom apartments) at the Grandview, plus I'm a Worldmark Gold Owner, and can book in either resort they have there, or exchange for another Vegas resort.)

Hotel vs. timeshare? It all depends on what you're looking for.

I like getting off-strip for the night, and also like day-tripping out of Vegas, so condos are great for me. The hotels offer the advantage of being on-scene with "the action," and have their own benefits when I'm feeling that I want close access to restaurants, shows, and the casino. To me, condos offer more privacy, a reliable quality experience, and more of a "residence" feel, less of being part of the Vegas attractions, as it were. Condos are also more family-friendly, or good if you're staying there with friends.

I will be staying for the first time at the Grandview this November, and it took my breath away with sheer opulence, when I visited one of the units there, when I was staying at the Worldmark, earlier this year. There is a new Station Casino due to open next door to this one, so I guess this will be my "close to the action" alternative for the future.

Seriously, though, all condos are different. I'd find out something about whatever condo is offered, because of the three I've stayed at (two Worldmarks and an exchange for The Cliffs at Peace Canyon) and two I've checked out (my unit at the Grandview Las Vegas, plus Mandalay Bay), every single one has had a different vibe and personality, sometimes radically so. No, all condos are not created equal, and some are closer to being high-roller suites, while some are just like nice family apartments, and some are more like a nice hotel, but with a kitchen. Some have their own on-site amenities, ranging from multiple pools and water attractions (like a lazy river) to spas to snackbars and minimarts. Some are actually adjacent to/part of a hotel/casino. You really need to know something about what's being offered.

[Jilara]

BTW, attending a condo presentation is also a great way to get perks, like show tickets, free gambling, etc. The ones for the condos attached to the strip hotels offer some pretty attractive inducements, like tickets to the more pricey and desirable shows.

[HedoTom]

I love timeshares for traveling most places (I own 2 weeks - BTW buy on the secondary market not from developers if you want them to be economical). Our preference in Vegas are hotels, but as Jilara accurately pointed out this preference is based on what is important to you. The reasons we do hotels in Vegas:

1) One of the main advantages of timeshares is the kitchen. When we go to Vegas I go to enjoy the food not cook (and yes I do the cooking not my sweet wife, she fixes our cars <G>). Cheap breakfasts and outstanding restaurants for dinner eliminate any need for the kitchen.

2) Don't need the comforts of the bigger/homier room. We don't stay in Vegas for a whole week, generally just long weekends and we really don't spend much time in the rooms. When we come back to the room it is gererally just to crash so a comfortable bed is really the main thing we look for. No need for the seperate living room and TV because we would seldom use it.

3) Cost. The cost of my cheapest maintenance fees and the exchange fee would be more than I pay for rooms in Vegas. Why pay money when we generally get our rooms free (at lesser properties) to cheap (at mid level properties).

4) Convenience. My wife is not a big gambler so I do a lot of my gambling either late at night or very early in the morning while she is sleeping. I like having the casino at the bottom of the elevator rather than having to leave the timeshare to find a casino (this would not be as much of an issue at the Flamingo Time share but never been able to get into there).

Tom

[crisndeefromde]

We own several weeks at the Jockey Club next door to the Bellagio. We come to Vegas several times a year however, we only use our timeshare when we come for the CES convention in January. Sometimes we stay in the summer there also but usually use our hotel offers the other times. I like having a refrig especially and sometimes heating up the leftovers for a midnite snack. With the new complex going up around us, our property is going to be exciting and we will probably ending up staying there each visit. The Jockey isn't as plush as some of the other timeshare resorts out there however we have great main. fee costs and short of staying at the Golden spike for seven nites you can't beat the location vs seven nites of strip rates for our seven nites at the Jockey Club. Only buy resale. There are many great companies out there that deal in resales. Never buy from the developer ....just say no! Hope this helps.

[plaporta]

We generally go to Vegas once a year. Without kids we stayed at Bally's with kids at the Tropicana. Finally we bought a timeshare at the Grand Desert. It is about three blocks to the Strip. We have 3 bedrooms two baths. The space is fantastic. We love having a refrigerator with cold drinks in the room and the option of having cereal or something easy for breakfast rather than always going out. The downside is that there is no restaurant or casino on the premises. But let's face it, how often do you stay at a hotel and only go to the casino and the restaurant on the premises of that hotel. We love it. If we take a one or two bedroom unit we can then use the remaining points for an additional vacation. And, you don't even have to rent a car. They have a shuttle that takes you to Harrah's and even to the supermarket (if you want to stock up on some cold drinks). Additionally, if you love the whole hotel thing, you can use your timeshare points to book a room at Harrah's. But I feel once you see the room comparison you would want to stay at the Grand Desert.

Wherever you stay -- just have fun -- that's what Vegas is all about.

Pat

[Scooby]

We've owned a 1br at Jocky Club for about 7 years. We've only stayed in it once. We trade it every year for our family vacations. We've been to the Bahamas a couple of times and last month we traded it for a week in Aruba. We always get free hotel offers in Vegas, so it would be a waste to use our timeshare there. I would recommend a timeshare to anyone who plans on taking a week-long vacation every year. The deal to remember about a timeshare is that if you don't use it or trade it or rent it every year, you're wasting your money. But if you utilize it every year you save a ton of money. Like HedoTom said, buy one from an individual rather than from the property's sales office, you pay half the price.

[vu-doo]

anybody wanna sell one?

[time11130]

We own actually week 26 at Westgate but the week can be changed. It is for a 2 bedroom unit. Red Week- 5 Star Resort
We currently have our unit up for sale for $9,999. We paid $18,499 for this about 6 years ago and used it a lot. Our kids are getting older now and we just have gotten hooked on cruises.

[KathyP]

Just remember with timeshares, no matter where they are, there is a yearly maintenance fee; a fee for switching to another resort vacation and, eventually, a special assessment for remodeling the units. This is all in addition to the mortgage payment each month. Resale values suck, too. IMHO, if you want a timeshare, buy a resale, never new.

[jrinct1]

I own a Timeshare ( based in FLA). Never been there.I have rented, been to NH 2 times and MANY times in LV.
That said if i wanted amenties while in LV and being right at a major casino then staying at a casino hotel is the call.

In all the years i had switched my timeshares to LV......the rooms were somewhat of a waste( usually could have up to 6 people in them w/o too much of a problem) because it was just me for the most part. NEVER cooked, did use the refrig a bit, the living room, i walked in it once a trip. I DID use the washer and dryers which were the biggest plus of the places.

Having stayed the last few times at casino hotels..........THAT will be my choice.